James E. Wadham
Encyclopedia
James E. Wadham was an American
Democratic politician
from California
.
Wadham was born c. 1865 in Illinois, but moved to San Diego, California
around 1870. He was a conservative Democratic attorney who ran for mayor of San Diego in 1903 but was defeated. He ran again a few years later and served as mayor of San Diego from 1911 to 1913. He was elected with the help of trade union
s.
Wadham died in San Diego 1930 aged 80.
(IWW or "Wobblies") were a militant labor union seeking to organize unskilled workers. San Diegans were uneasy because the Mexican Revolution of 1910
had recently occurred, and the border with Mexico was nearby. San Diego, as did many local governments
, passed ordinances against any kind of public demonstration. In 1912, Wobblies came to challenge
the San Diego ordinances by getting arrested in significant numbers, and filling the city jail. But private vigilante groups, apparently working in cooperation with the police, took the Wobblies out of town and beat them up.
Vincent Saint John
, a leader of the Wobblies, sent a telegram to Wadham which stated, "This fight will be continued until free speech is established in San Diego if it takes 20,000 members and 20 years to do so." That only made the San Diego vigilanties, newspapers, and city and county government dig in their heels and more determined to get rid of the Wobblies at any cost.
Anarchists Emma Goldman
and Ben Reitman
came to town to lecture, against the advice of mayor Wadham. After they arrived, Wadham went to Reitman and said:
Reitman suggested the police disperse the vigilantes just as they did the Wobblies. Wadham replied:
Reitman refused protection, and Wadham gave up and left. Reitman was kidnapped from his hotel room by the vigilantes, stripped, tortured, branded, tarred, and sent out of town. Goldman fled in the meantime. The San Diego free speech fight eventually diminished.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Wadham was born c. 1865 in Illinois, but moved to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
around 1870. He was a conservative Democratic attorney who ran for mayor of San Diego in 1903 but was defeated. He ran again a few years later and served as mayor of San Diego from 1911 to 1913. He was elected with the help of trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s.
Wadham died in San Diego 1930 aged 80.
Wadham and Wobblies
The Industrial Workers of the WorldIndustrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
(IWW or "Wobblies") were a militant labor union seeking to organize unskilled workers. San Diegans were uneasy because the Mexican Revolution of 1910
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
had recently occurred, and the border with Mexico was nearby. San Diego, as did many local governments
Free speech fights
Free speech fights are conflicts over the right to speak freely, particularly involving the Industrial Workers of the World efforts in the early twentieth century to organize workers and publicly speak about labor issues...
, passed ordinances against any kind of public demonstration. In 1912, Wobblies came to challenge
San Diego Free Speech Fight
The San Diego Free Speech Fight in San Diego, California in 1912–1913 was one of the most famous of the "free speech fights", class conflicts over the free speech rights of labor unions.-Introduction:...
the San Diego ordinances by getting arrested in significant numbers, and filling the city jail. But private vigilante groups, apparently working in cooperation with the police, took the Wobblies out of town and beat them up.
Vincent Saint John
Vincent Saint John
Vincent Saint John was an American labor leader and a prominent Wobbly.-Biography:He was born in Newport, Kentucky and was the only son of New York native Silas St. John and Irish immigrant Marian "Mary" Cecilia Magee...
, a leader of the Wobblies, sent a telegram to Wadham which stated, "This fight will be continued until free speech is established in San Diego if it takes 20,000 members and 20 years to do so." That only made the San Diego vigilanties, newspapers, and city and county government dig in their heels and more determined to get rid of the Wobblies at any cost.
Anarchists Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman
Emma Goldman was an anarchist known for her political activism, writing and speeches. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the twentieth century....
and Ben Reitman
Ben Reitman
Ben Lewis Reitman was an American anarchist and physician to the poor . He is best remembered today as radical Emma Goldman's lover.Reitman was a flamboyant, eccentric character...
came to town to lecture, against the advice of mayor Wadham. After they arrived, Wadham went to Reitman and said:
- You hear that mob, they mean business. They want to get you and Reitman out of the hotel, even if they have to take you by force. We cannot guarantee anything. If you consent to leave, we will give you protection and get you safely out of town.
Reitman suggested the police disperse the vigilantes just as they did the Wobblies. Wadham replied:
- We can't do it. These people are in a dangerous mood, and your presence makes things worse.
Reitman refused protection, and Wadham gave up and left. Reitman was kidnapped from his hotel room by the vigilantes, stripped, tortured, branded, tarred, and sent out of town. Goldman fled in the meantime. The San Diego free speech fight eventually diminished.